Hydrogen Highway: The Road to Economic and Social Benefits
January 2010
This station is located in Vancouver on the University of B.C. campus, adjacent to Pacific Spirit park.
Even before the first champion mounts the podium at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Canada will have earned a gold medal in the eyes of the world.
What better way to illustrate a bold drive forward in the quest for alternative energy sources than to showcase the Hydrogen Highway at the Games?
Hydrogen and fuel cell technology
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, like electric vehicles, produce zero emissions and can be powered by renewable and other clean energy sources. The Hydrogen Highway — one of most advanced, integrated and diverse hydrogen and fuel cell technology programs in the world — is a large-scale hydrogen infrastructure system.
The Government of Canada, including Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), in partnership with industry and the British Columbia government, has produced a series of seven hydrogen fuelling stations stretching from Victoria to the main Olympic site at Whistler. These stations provide support to a host of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including the 20 BC Transit fuel cell vehicles that will operate during the 2010 Games.
“Our industry lead in the hydrogen and fuel cell technology area will help Canada expand its leadership in the transportation sector,” says John Marrone, Director General of NRCan’s CanmetENERGY Research Centre in Ottawa.
When the first bus of what will become the world's largest single hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet was delivered in October 2009, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Canada's Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, expressed Canada's pride over its involvement in the project.
“By investing in the development of green buses and fuelling stations, we are creating jobs today and also ensuring that British Columbia is a world leader in hydrogen fuel cell technology,” said Minister Day.
No greenhouse gases
One of the 20 fuel cell buses that will travel the Hydrogen Highway during the 2010 Winter Games.
The new buses produce no smog-creating emissions and no greenhouse gases at the tailpipe. Hydrogen is combined with oxygen in the fuel cell to electrochemically produce electricity. Heat and water are the only by-products.
Total funding for the hydrogen fuel cell bus project, covering capital and operating costs to March 2014, is $89.5 million. Of this amount, $45 million is from the Government of Canada and $44.5 million comes from the B.C. government and BC Transit.
In March 2009, the Hydrogen Highway received one of the first of nine Sustainability Stars from the Vancouver Olympic Committee. The Sustainability Stars program was created to recognize the Vancouver 2010 partners who have demonstrated excellence in rising to the challenge of creating projects with positive and measurable social, economic and environmental assets.
Diverse partnership
A number of federal, provincial and municipal agencies have partnered with industry to bring the Hydrogen Highway into being. For more information about these agencies and for general information about this world-renowned project, visit the Hydrogen Highway Web site.